“This war is your personal choice”: Open letter from Zelenskyy to Putin urges end to war, warns Russia faces growing strain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for an end to the war, while warning that Russia is facing mounting military, economic, and political pressure, according to the text published on 4 June.

Zelenskyy said the war was “your personal choice — a war without a real cause,” adding that history would remember it that way. 

He said relations between the two countries had shifted from civilian ties to “strikes and losses,” adding Russia had spent “nearly half” of Putin’s time in power waging war against Ukraine.

He also pointed to Ukraine’s long-range strike capability, saying: “the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians view it positively that our long-range drones paid a visit to the opening of your forum in St. Petersburg,” adding that such systems could reach further than 1,000 kilometers.

‘Russians are becoming less comfortable with this reality’

Zelenskyy argued that pressure on Russia was increasing, citing battlefield losses, economic strain, and domestic dissatisfaction.

“They do not like our drones and missiles,” he said. “They do not like gasoline shortages and constantly rising prices. They do not like constant restrictions.”

He claimed Russia was facing “more and more negative consequences” from the war, adding that resources were shrinking and political capital was eroding.

Zelenskyy said Russian forces were suffering heavy losses in Ukraine, stating that May alone saw “more than 30,000 Russian soldiers killed and seriously wounded,” and adding that Ukraine had “video confirmation” of battlefield losses.

He also claimed that Russian casualty ratios showed “63 percent” killed and “37 percent” wounded, arguing this was unsustainable for any modern army.

Call for negotiations and ceasefire

The Ukrainian president said Ukraine did not want a “permanent war” and insisted that “life without war is infinitely better.”

He called for direct talks with Putin, rejecting Moscow suggestions that he travel to Russia for any meeting.

“There are countries that have traditionally hosted leaders to resolve issues of war and peace,” he said, naming Switzerland, Türkiye, and Arab states as possible venues.

Zelenskyy proposed a “full ceasefire for the duration of the negotiations,” along with an “all-for-all exchange of prisoners of war” as a first step toward ending the conflict.

Warning of prolonged war

Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing for a longer conflict, saying Ukrainian intelligence indicated Moscow was considering extending the war into 2027 and 2028.

He also accused Russia of seeking to draw Belarus further into the war and of attempting to destabilize other regions, including Moldova’s Transnistria.

He said Ukraine was prepared to continue fighting if necessary, but stressed that “the choice is yours now,” urging Putin to “stop your war.”

“Enough of war. Ukraine proposes to end this war,” he said.

The full text of the open letter is published here.